Patriots girls top Spartans

Published: Friday, November 30, 2012 at 11:05 PM.

Hunt scored 22 of his team’s 33 first-half points and added 10 more in the third period. He only managed six in the final period as the Spartans (5-0, 2-0) pulled away and took their foot off the gas.

“Not only did they have the best player on the court, but they also did a better job of taking care of the basketball,” said Person, whose team committed 27 turnovers, 18 in the opening half. “They just came out with more energy.”

K-V also dictated tempo in the first two quarters. The Spartans wanted to run and they were able to force APA into a fast pace with an active, three-quarters zone trap.

Too many Patriots turnovers were the result, and APA (1-3, 0-1) also didn’t do itself any favors with a 10 for 23 performance from the free throw line.

“We couldn’t stop number 1 (Hunt) but if we’d shot free throws better and cut back on our mistakes we’d have still had a chance,” Person said. “All the reasons we lost tonight are correctable.”

But it was the Spartans’ lone sophomore that proved to be the difference.

Six-foot point guard R.J. Hunt, the youngest player on K-V’s roster, was a one-man wrecking crew, erupting for 38 points as the visitors outgunned the Patriots 66-50 Friday at Ellis Simon Gymnasium.

Hunt was as unstoppable as his final stat line suggested. He connected on 12 of 19 field goals attempts (5 of 8 from 3-point range) and 9 of 10 free throws. For good measure he added four rebounds, three steals, and even found time to dish out a couple of assists.

“He (Hunt) made all the difference in the world,” first-year APA coach Shivar Person said. “We matched up pretty well against the rest of their team, but as coaches we have to do a better job of making adjustments. You can’t let one guy beat you like that.”

That one guy was a man among boys, although just a boy himself. He used his quickness to drive past the defense for easy layups when he was covered and simply bombed away from long range when he wasn’t.

Hunt scored 22 of his team’s 33 first-half points and added 10 more in the third period. He only managed six in the final period as the Spartans (5-0, 2-0) pulled away and took their foot off the gas.

“Not only did they have the best player on the court, but they also did a better job of taking care of the basketball,” said Person, whose team committed 27 turnovers, 18 in the opening half. “They just came out with more energy.”

K-V also dictated tempo in the first two quarters. The Spartans wanted to run and they were able to force APA into a fast pace with an active, three-quarters zone trap.

Too many Patriots turnovers were the result, and APA (1-3, 0-1) also didn’t do itself any favors with a 10 for 23 performance from the free throw line.

“We couldn’t stop number 1 (Hunt) but if we’d shot free throws better and cut back on our mistakes we’d have still had a chance,” Person said. “All the reasons we lost tonight are correctable.”